Celebrity Chef Returns to Wichita for Health Cooking Class

Celebrity Chef Rock Harper returned to Wichita on Saturday, July 18, 2015, to conduct a hands-on cooking class as part of AARP Kansas efforts to help members prepare healthy meals in order to prevent or manage diseases that are related to obesity and to assist caregivers who cook for themselves and a loved one.

 

Chef Harper, who is the TV program Hell’s Kitchen (Season Three) winner, created the healthy menu and developed recipes for oven roasted cod with a citrus vinaigrette, Hasselback potatoes, and grilled vegetables.  He then oversaw the preparation of the meal with the 16 cooks who were selected to participate.

 

The cooking class participants were African American/Black women and men who were invited to participate in the class for a variety of reasons. There are a number of diseases that disproportionately impact African Americans/Blacks, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Healthy eating may help prevent or at least manage some of these concerns and are especially helpful for the cooks or their family members who have or may be prone to have diabetes. Diabetes is more prevalent among African Americans than any other population with the exception of Native Americans.

 

Healthy eating is also extremely important for caregivers who may feel overwhelmed with their caregiving responsibilities and who may not believe they have the time, knowledge or ability to prepare healthy meals. An AARP state-by-state study, the Long-Term Care Services and Supports Scorecard, revealed that 38 percent of caregivers in Kansas experience stress because of time constraints.   AARP hopes that by provided tips for cooking healthier meals, including time-saving techniques, it will lessen the stress and help caregivers take care of themselves and not incur the reported weight gain that often time comes with being a caregiver.

 

“We know from years past that this type of cooking demonstration is helpful in changing behaviors and encouraging people to adopt a healthier lifestyle,” said AARP Kansas Director Maren Turner. “The cooks participating in Saturday’s food preparation have agreed to take part in a year-long study with follow up checks every several months to see how they’re doing. Our hope is that those who participate can make real and lasting changes in their eating habits.”

 

Throughout his career, Chef Harper has worked at award winning restaurants such as Café Calliope, Burke Station Restaurant, Planet Hollywood, BET on Jazz Restaurant, and as Executive Chef of B. Smith’s Restaurant, Ben’s Next Door and The Carlyle Club. He currently works at the DC Central Kitchen in Washington, D.C. as culinary instructor.

 

The event is sponsored by AARP Kansas and the Kansas African American Affairs Commission (KAAAC).